Flow of magnetic fluid between concentric annuli (Rheological property of water-based magnetic fluid)

We experimentally studied shear flow of a water-based magnetic fluid between concentric annuli. The experiment was carried out by changing the angular velocity of the outer cylinder, and the moment acting on the inner cylinder was measured. Experimental results were discussed in the following three ways. At first the magnetic fluid was treated as a Newtonian fluid, and a small difference in the flow curves was found. Next the power-law fluid theory was applied in order to explain these differences. Finally we examined this flow problem using the micropolar theory, which gives the theoretical relation between the moment acting on the inner cylinder and the angular velocity of the outer one. We measured the coefficient which denoted the micropolar effect, and showed the influence of the substructure on the fluid.